BS, Dietetics and Nutrition
In the modern world, more and more people are embracing the vegan lifestyle due to various reasons and the prime reasons amongst them are that veganism has many health benefits, and it’s animal friendly. 1
It’s true that while following a vegan diet you need to stay away from animal products by adopting plant-based products. But it doesn’t mean that we have to avoid all foods such as sweets and other snacks, and when we are talking about sweets we can never forget about LOLLIPOPS.
Table of Contents
- What are lollipops?
- Are lollipops vegan?
- Are chupa chups lollipops vegan?
- Are dum dum lollipops vegan?
- Are tootsie roll lollipops vegan?
- Are original gourmet lollipops vegan?
- Are jolly rancher filled lollipops vegan?
- Are mexican lollipops vegan?
- Are trader joe’s lollipops vegan?
- Are pumpking lollipops vegan?
- Are see’s candies lollipops vegan?
- Are lollipops chips vegan?
- Are mexican mango lollipops vegan?
- Are the bug lollipops vegan?
- Non-vegan ingredients in lollipops
- What to look at in vegan lollipops?
- Are lollipops healthy?
What are lollipops?
Lollipops are a type of sugar candy usually consisting of hard candy mounted on a stick and intended for sucking or licking. Different informal terms are used in different places, including lolly, sucker, sticky-pop, etc. Lollipops are available in many flavors and shapes.
Lollipops come in a variety of shapes, colors, and flavors, from classics like cherry or grape to more sophisticated kinds like sriracha or blackberry mint. Lollipops can even be made vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free.
What ingredients are inside lollipops?
The ingredients used in the production of lollipops vary by manufacturer. Although basic lollipops contain the following ingredients:2
- Water
- Sugar
- Corn Syrup
- Flavorings [both natural and artificial]
- Malic acid or Citric acid.
These are the ingredients that are found in lollipops in general.
Are lollipops vegan?
Most of the lollipops are vegan as they contain water and sugar as the principal ingredients. As mentioned above, some lollipops may also contain malic acid or citric acid, which are vegan. The extra ingredients that are added to lollipops to enhance their flavor may sometimes include non-vegan elements. If you practice veganism, you must see the lollipop’s ingredient list printed on the wrapper before eating it.
Here is a quick snapshot inspection of most popular lollipops you can buy:
Are chupa chups lollipops vegan?
Yes, Chupa Chups are vegan, but only the strawberry, cherry, and cola flavors. As they usually come in unsorted packs, you should be careful when going with them. Check prices and ingredients at Amazon.
Are dum dum lollipops vegan?
Yes, the most famous Dum Dum lollipops are vegan. They contain few coloring ingredients, but all are non-vegan. You are safe to go with these always. Check prices and ingredients at Amazon.
Are tootsie roll lollipops vegan?
The lollipop sticks are made of sugar, corn syrup, water, citric acid, artificial flavorings including raspberry extract, natural flavorings including lemon oil, artificial colors including red 40 and blue 1. The candy itself is not vegan because it contains gelatin. Check prices and ingredients at Amazon.
Are original gourmet lollipops vegan?
Original Gourmet Lollipops are not vegan because they contain animal-derived ingredients such as gelatin. Gelatin is sourced from the boiled bones, skin, and connective tissue of animals such as cows and pigs.
Are jolly rancher filled lollipops vegan?
Lollipops are sweet, hard candy that are typically shaped into a round or oval shape. A common type of lollipop is the Jolly Rancher filled lollipop, which contains a hard center made up of flavors such as cherry, watermelon, blue raspberry, and so on. While there are many types of Jolly Ranchers flavors, they are not vegan because animal gelatin is used to produce the molded shapes for these candies.
Are mexican lollipops vegan?
A Mexican lollipop is typically composed of a sugar-based candy shell, made from sugar, water, corn syrup, and food coloring. The problem with the Mexican lollipop is that it contains gelatin which uses animal byproducts like bone char to make the product. The lollipop is not vegan because it contains gelatin, but there are many vegan versions of the Mexican lollipop available.
Are trader joe’s lollipops vegan?
The Trader Joe’s Lollipops are vegan. They are made from organic sugar, water, corn syrup, natural flavorings and colors. The ingredients in the lollipops are natural, thus making it vegan.
Are pumpking lollipops vegan?
In general, pumpkins are not vegan because they contain the enzyme that is used for transforming milk into cheese. In many cases, lollipops that are made from a vegan material such as sugar or glycerine do not have any animal byproducts, so it is possible to have a pumpkin lollipop. However, in most cases due to the use of animal-based ingredients in the manufacturing process, pumpkin lollipops are not vegan.
Are see’s candies lollipops vegan?
Sees Candies lollipops are vegan. This is because they are made with sugar, corn syrup, and glucose syrup. After these ingredients are combined, the sugar is highly refined. None of the ingredients in their lollipops are animal-based products.
Are lollipops chips vegan?
Lollipops are vegan, yet chips are not. Lollipops are made of sugar, corn syrup, water and artificial coloring. Chips, on the other hand, contain beef or chicken flavoring along with oil that might be made from beef fat.
Are mexican mango lollipops vegan?
Sees Candies lollipops are Mexican mango lollipops are not It is unclear whether mexican mango lollipops are vegan-friendly. The use of gelatin in the production of sweets usually means that they are not vegan-friendly. Gelatin is an animal-based product that comes from boiling animal bones, ligaments, skin, and other tissue. The production of gelatin gives it a wide range of culinary uses, but for people who follow a vegan diet it may be difficult to enjoy many sweets because so many are made with gelatin.
Are the bug lollipops vegan?
The bug lollipops are not vegan. They contain gelatin, a key component which is made from animal byproducts. The bug lollipops include a small label on the packaging that is not edible which states “dairy-free”. This means that it contains no dairy products, but it’s still not vegan.
Apart from these, there are many other vegan lollipops present in the market but still, I would recommend that homemade lollipops are the best way to ensure that the ingredients are purely vegan.11
Non-vegan ingredients in lollipops
Here are some non-vegan ingredients which are common in some lollipops:
Cream
Cream is a rich dairy product made by skimming fat off fresh unpasteurized milk.3 Fresh unpasteurized milk quickly separates and the fat rises to the top. This fat layer is then skimmed off and is known as cream.
Generally, lollipops that contain cream have the name ‘cream’ mentioned somewhere.
An example is an Alpenlibe Cream. Strawberry Lollipops contain water, sugar, cream, and added strawberry flavor.
Caramel
Caramel is made by cooking natural sugar up to a high temperature of about 340°F (170°C).4 It has many uses in candy and sauces, and as a topping for certain desserts.
There are various types of natural sugars including lactose that are non-vegan and fructose that are vegan. Caramel sauce, which contains cream and milk is also used in making certain kinds of lollipops.
The problem is that the products which have caramel listed in their ingredient list do not specify that whether they contain dairy or not and this makes it difficult to identify that whether the caramel containing lollipops are vegan or not.
Glycerine
Glycerine [also known as glycerol or glycerine] is a colorless, odorless sweet-tasting liquid that is basically non-toxic in nature.5
Synthetic glycerine is often used in the food, supplement, and cosmetic industries.
Glycerin can be derived from both animals[tallow] and plants[soyabean oil, coconut oil]. Since lollipops brands do not specify that from where they have sourced the glycerine, it’s better to stay away from lollipops that list glycerine as an ingredient.
What to look at in vegan lollipops?
Ingredients
Select a vegan lollipop made without artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Artificial colors can make lollipops look more appealing, but artificial food coloring and dyes may be harmful, especially for children.6
In addition, just because lollipops are labeled as vegan does not mean they are free of other ingredients that may be problematic for those with allergies or food sensitivities.
Always look at the product packaging to ensure you know exactly what is in the vegan lollipop.
Many vegan products have a “vegan” label on the packaging to help you easily identify that all ingredients are vegan.
Labels
Third-party certifications such as certified vegan, certified non-GMO, USDA organic, kosher, and fair trade, allow shoppers to feel confident about their product choices.7,8,9,10 Whether you follow a specific dietary pattern for health or moral reasons, certifications save time and energy when shopping and deciding between a variety of different products.
Sugar
Just because a lollipop contains a special label does not mean it is healthier than conventional products. Lollipop is still lollipop; however, some products are made with better ingredients than others.
Vegan lollipops still contain sugar, and they should be moderated and enjoyed mindfully.
Are lollipops healthy?
Lollipops are mostly sugar and sugars in excess aren’t good for you:
- Excess sugar
- Feeds the bacteria which rot your teeth.12
- Spikes the blood sugar levels
- can lead to diabetes, blood pressure, and heart-related problems.
So we should eat them in moderation.
Candy [including lollipops] should be considered an indulgence—not a snack—and should be consumed moderately and with mindfulness. It’s easy to reach for candy—even ‘healthier’ vegan candy— to boost energy quickly, but at the end of the day it’s still candy.”—Eliza Savage, MS, RD, CDN
References
- Definition of veganism. Vegan Society. Accessed from https://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/definition-veganism. Retrieved 02 April 2021
- Lollipops ingredients. Candy Creek. Accessed from https://www.candycreek.com/ingredients-lollipops.html. Retrieved 02 April 2021
- All about Cream. All Recipes. Accessed from https://www.allrecipes.com/video/621/all-about-cream/. Retrieved 02 April 2021
- This is What Every Stage of Making Caramel Looks Like. Taste of Home. Accessed from https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/what-caramel-stages-look-like/. Retrieved 02 April 2021
- Glycerine: an overview. Aciscience. Accessed from http://www.aciscience.org/docs/glycerine_-_an_overview.pdf. Retrieved 02 April 2021
- What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Artificial Sweeteners. Perri O. Blumberg. Eat This. Accessed from https://www.eatthis.com/artificial-sweeteners-side-effects/. Retrieved 02 April 2021
- Vegan Certification Process. Vegan.org. Accessed from https://vegan.org/certification-process/. Retrieved 02 April 2021
- What is GMO? NOON GMO Project. Accessed from https://www.nongmoproject.org/gmo-facts/what-is-gmo/. Retrieved 02 April 2021
- USDA organic. USDA. Accessed from https://www.usda.gov/topics/organic. Retrieved 02 April 2021
- Kosher certification agency. Wikipedia. Accessed from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosher_certification_agency. Retrieved 02 April 2021
- The Foolproof Way to Make Homemade Lollipops. The Spruce Eats Accessed from https://www.thespruceeats.com/lollipops-521375. Retrieved 02 April 2021
- How Sugar Causes Cavities and Destroys Your Teeth. Verena Tan. Accessed from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-sugar-destroys-teeth. Retrieved 02 April 2021
